Flanker Turnbull staked a major claim for a Six Nations squad spot with his display in front of Warren Gatland, with Cockerill particularly impressed with his work at the breakdown.

“He was a right pain for us in that first-half,” said the Tigers boss. “He was very good over the ball and stole all our ball. At 22 he’s a quality player.”

Cockerill’s comments were echoed by his Scarlets counterpart Nigel Davies, who said: “I thought Josh was outstanding. He’s a machine. He just doesn’t stop. He was everywhere.”

Turnbull was at the forefront of a hugely committed first-half display from the Scarlets at the tackle area, which took Cockerill somewhat by surprise.

“I think it was as fierce a battle at the breakdown as we have had,” said the former England hooker.

“We have watched a lot of the Scarlets and they’ve not been as intense as that for a long time.”

Leicester got more joy at the breakdown as they came from behind in the second-half, with Thomas Waldrom’s try-scoring pass to Ben Youngs from a ruck on 60 minutes proving a pivotal.

Cockerill added: “I thought the referee was very good. He controlled a high tempo game that was very fierce at the breakdown and rewarded the dominant set-piece, but also he let there be a contest for the ball for both sides.

“But it was always going to be a game where the weather was going to be a factor and it wasn’t a big enough lead at the break with that wind.

“The message at half-time was just to keep our shape, play in their half, squeeze them defensively and pressure their set-piece.

“We knew if we did that we would get opportunities to score at some stage and thankfully that turned out to be the case.

“We had to win otherwise we were out. The boys fronted up, so I’m delighted with that.”